Analysis of Maternal and Neonatal Transport by the 1339 Emergency Medical Information Center in Busan Area

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: In relation to perinatal healthcare, medical institutions and resources are limitative and also are in a state of flux due to the therapeutic specialty. We analyzed requests for interhospital transfers received by Busan 1339 Emergency Medical Information Center (EMIC) to grasp the state of perinatal healthcare delivery system. METHODS: This study was conducted on the basis of data inputted into the computing system of Busan 1339 EMIC, between January 1 and December 31, 2009. In connection with 378 pregnant women and 136 newborns who were required to transfer, retrospective analyses were made of the success rate of transfer (SR), the number of contacted hospitals, the time required for transfer and the reason of transfer and refusal. RESULTS: In the case of pregnant women, the SR were 65.5%. They came in contact with 2.7 hospitals, and it took 24.4 minutes. As for the reason of transfer, preterm labor accounted for the highest proportion. In the case of newborns, the SR were 71.3%. They came in contact with 2.4 hospitals, and it took 15.6 minutes. The most common reason of transfer were respiratory symptoms. In the reason of refusal with pregnant women and newborn, the lack of medical staff, medical equipments and wards accounted for great. CONCLUSION: Many pregnant women and newborns have been transferred to hospitals by EMIC, but the SR has not been higher yet. Accordingly, there is a need to evaluate the propriety of perinatal treatment system, as well as to set up effective perinatal healthcare delivery system.